A Computer-Based Laboratory for Undergraduate Research in Psychology

鲍登学院心理学系建立了微型计算机实验室，以加强本科生对科学研究的基本原理及其在心理学中的具体应用的了解。正在购置五台微型计算机以及它们与其他实验室设备(如幻灯机、磁带录音机)对接所需的硬件和软件。计算机被用来控制刺激呈现，并在由三个专业水平的学生进行的研究中收集反应：(1)入门课程的学生使用计算机进行简单的实验，并与课堂上涵盖的材料相协调，从而获得“动手”的研究经验。(2)在该系的三门实验课程(认知、语言和社会行为研究)中，每一门课程的学生都使用计算机进行原创的、全面的实验，该实验由学生设计并集体进行。(3)完成高级荣誉项目和其他独立研究项目的学生在他们的高级原创研究项目中使用实验室设备。新设备的使用增加了鲍登学院学生进行的心理学研究的数量、质量和种类。该机构正在将NSF的拨款与同等数额的资金相匹配。

A micro-computer based laboratory is established in the Psychology Department of Bowdoin College to enhance undergraduate's understanding of basic principles of scientific research and their specific applications in psychology. Five micro-computers and the hardware and software necessary to interface them with other laboratory equipment (e.g., slide projectors, taperecorders) are being acquired. The computers are used to control stimulus presentation and to collect responses in studies conducted by students at three levels of expertise: (1) Students in the introductory course use the computers to obtain "hands on" research experience by conducting simple experiments that are coordinated with material covered in lectures. (2) Students in each of the Department's three experimental laboratory courses (Cognition, Language, and Research in Social Behavior) use the computers to conduct an original, full-scale experiment that the students design and carry out as a group. (3) Students doing senior honors projects and other independent research projects use the laboratory equipment in their advanced, original research projects. Use of the new equipment allows an increase in the amount, quality, and variety of psychological research conducted by students at Bowdoin. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.